Cigarette rod former



Sept. 5, 1944. J. w. WARREN CIGARETTE ROD FORMER Filed July 12, 1941 w $1 F mm m h Y n w w a \n mm Mm. m n 9w q OK N2 w a INVENTOR JAMES W. WARREN ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 5, 1944 CIGARETTE ROD FORMER James W. Warren, Lynbrook, N. Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry 00., a corporation of New Jersey Application Julyl2, 1941, Serial No. 402,153 12 Claims. (01. 131-67) This invention relates to a continuous rod cigarette machine and more particularly to improvements in a mounting for the pasting section block and the folder or ironer blocks of the cigarette rod forming and finishing mechanism.

Heretofore, the folder ironing section block has been positioned by shims or strips of paper and then clamped; that is, paper strips have been used to obtain the proper spacing to secure the desired diameter of the cigarette rod which must be exceedingly accurate. Instead of using shims or strips of paper, four screws located approximately in each corner of the block have also been used to obtain the proper tilt and spacing for the pasting section or folded ironing section blocks.

With this four-corner screw type of adjustment, it has been found quite difiicult to properly balance the block because if one screw were improperly set, it would cause the block to wobble in a manner somewhat similar to aphair which teeters because of the shortness of one leg. Moreover, since blocks have to be positioned and placed with great precision, it is not uncommon for an operator to sometimes work a half hour or more attempting to position these blocks. This special accuracy is required because if the pasting section and ironing block are not properly adjusted with respect to the rod forming tongue and with respect to one another, wrinkles or creases will be formed in the completed cigarette rod.

Therefore, every time the rod forming tongue is raised or lowered to form a cigarette of differ ent diameter, to makea tighter or looser rod, to allow for an increase or decrease in the speed of the cigarette machine, or for any other reason it is adjusted, it is usually necessary to make a similar adjustment in the adjacent pasting section block and also in the ironing block. Moreover, whenever a defective rod is being formed, these various blocks have to be adjusted to rectify the cause of the defect in the rod. It is also necessary to remove the ironing block of some cigarette machines several times a day in order to remove paste which has accumulated on the under side thereof. 7

When one of 'these blocks is removed, it is sometimes the practice to replace it with a substitute block soas to avoid shutting down'the machine, and it would then be necessary to add to or remove the strips of paper before mentioned so as to properly align the tongue, pasting section block and ironer block with one another to avoid the formation of wrinkles and creases in the completed cigarette rod. When such a substitute pasting section block or ironing block is placed upon the machine, it will frequently require a half hour or more of an operators time to'make the aforementioned adjustments.

With the present invention, all of the adjustments mentioned may be made within a very short time, usually less than ten minutes, and the number of improperly finished cigarettes is materially decreased. Although applicant has referred to the pasting section blocks and ironing section blocks of a cigarette machine, he wishes it to be understood that these section blocks may sometimes be combined into one and that the adjustments disclosed in this application may be utilized whether one or a plurality of rod finishing section blocks are used.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved mount for the pasting section blocks and folder ironing section blocks which will allow these blocks to be easily and quickly adjusted to form a cigarette rod of the proper size without any wrinkles or creases.

Another object is to provide an improved mounting forthe pasting section blocks and folder ironing section blocks which will require only one adjustment, after which the blocks can be removed and replaced upon the cigarette machine without additional adjustments each time such replacements are made.

Another object is to provide a device which will produce a cigarette of uniform size and which will be free from wrinkles, with a minimum amount of adjustment.

A further object is to provide an improved and simplified mounting for the'pasting, ironing and finishing blocks of a continuous rod cigarette machine.

Another object is to provide a mount for the finishing section of a cigarette machine which will lend itself to adjustment when the machine is running.

A further object is to provide a mount for the ironing and pasting blocks of a cigarette machine which will not be affected by machining tolerances and which maybe removed and replaced without requiring adjustments to be made each time such block is removed or replaced.

Other objects. and features of the invention will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiments selected to illustrate the invention progresses.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, like characters of reference have been applied to correspond ng parts throughout the several views which make up the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved manner of securing the paster and lap folder or ironer sections of the rod former;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same;

-Fig. 2a is an enlarged perspective view of a detail of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, in the operation of a cigarette machine, the paper wrapper web P, on which the tobacco is showered or otherwise deposited, is advanced by a continuously moving endless rod forming tape T which is supported in a longitudinal channel of semi-circular or oval cross section provided in the folder bottom insert I which is secured in the bottom block II carried by a bracket I2 of the cigarette making machine. The tape advances the paper P and the tobacco under a tongue I3 which compacts the tobacco in the usual manner; said tongue and its mounting may be of the same construction as disclosed in the patent issued March 25, 1941, to E. D. Smith, No. 2,235,853.

Beyond the tongue, a rotating paste applying wheel I4 which forms a part of the paster of the continuous rod cigarette machine applies paste to the interior upstanding margin of the paper wrapper web P, Fig. 3, of the cigarette rod C. The paster may be of any Well known construction operating to deliver paste or casein to the periphery of the paster wheel, such as that shown in the patent issued September 22, 1931, to Bronander, No. 1,824,392.

The upstanding portion of the paper web P, Fig. 3, is supported by a guide plate I5, adjustably fastened to block II, and by a roller I6 adjacent the paste wheel I4 which serves to smooth any lumps or heavy portions of paste applied to the paper web. Roller I6 turns freely on a stud I! carried by an arm l8 which is pivotally mounted on a stud I9 extending from 3, lug 2D integral with a bracket 2I adjustably attached to member I2. Arm I8 is forked at 22 so as to straddle a collar 23 which locates the arm pivotally on stud I9. The bracket 2I is slotted to permit lateral adjustment of roller I6 with the paste applying wheel I4, said roller being yieldably held against the passing paper web by a flat spring lap folder ironing block was positioned by shims or strips of paper and then clamped in place.

24 which engages the web of arm I8, said spring be ng carried by a lug 25 of bracket 2I.

Upon the block II is mounted a tongue I3, a pasting section block 25, and a folder ironing or lap folder section block 21 constituting the rod forming tube and folding the pasted margin of the wrapper web P upon the rod, thus closing the seam. The pasting section block 26 overhangs the cigarette rod and is hollowed out longitudinally to form with the channel in insert Ill, Fig.

3, a bore in which the wrapper web P begins to form a. tube. As the upstanding pasted portion of the web P continues to advance, it encounters the inclined portion 28 of the lap folder section block or folder ironing section block 21 which gradually folds the pasted margin until it is lapped on the other margin to form a seam.

by suitable means, said sealer engaging and drying the seam of the cigarette rod C and picking up the surplus paste from the rod.

The lap folder section 21 in the present case has a novel mounting whereby it can be readily adjusted to secure the desired position for forming a cigarette rod of the correct size without anv creases or defects therein. Heretofore. the

Every time the lap folder ironing block is removed, which frequently occurs several times a day in some machines to remove accumulations of paste, another lap folder ironing block can be substituted in order to allow the cigarette machine to continue operating with a maximum of efliciency.

Each time a lap folder and ironing section of the old type was removed, the substitute section or block would have to be properly shimmed all over again because the shims used for one section would not be appropriate for another section. This is due to the fact that no two blocks are made exactly alike and because fine adjustments have to be made at this part of the machine to form a cigarette of correct size without any creases or wrinkles in the rod.

With the present construction, the lap folder section block or folder ironing section block has elongated slots 30 formed in either end thereof which closely fit the flattened ends 3I of studs 32 set in the bottom block II and spaced therein to support and guide block 21. Folder ironing section block 2! is further provided with adjusting set screws 33 at the forward and rear ends and aligned with slots 30 whereby it can be positioned to obtain the desired cross section of the cigarette rod. Once the position of the lap folder section 21 has been set by the adjusting set screws 33, the lock nuts 34 thereon can be tightened so that the section can be removed for cleaning without worrying about the setting when it is replaced. The studs 32 provide means for locating the section 21 and limit the extent to which the folder ironing section block can tilt on the set screws 33 under the downward pressure of the eccentrically positioned clamp screw 35.

The clamp screw 35 is tightened to engage with the lap folder ironing section 21 at a portion to one side of an imaginary center line passing through the set screws 33. In the present showing, the clamp screw 35 is illustrated as engaging what may be referred to as the outside portion of the block 21. By engaging the folder ironing section 21 to one side of the set screws 33, the ironer is tilted slightly so that the diagonall opposite sides of the slots 30 engage with the studs 32 and is at the same time pressed down upon the bottom block II by the clamp screw 35. In this manner the ironing block 21 is held immovably in position and there is no opportunity for the block to wobble. It will therefore be seen that once the ironing block 2'! has been adjustably placed in position by means of the set screws 33 and lock nuts 34, the ironing block 21 can be removed and replaced without any further adjustments because the tilt of the block 21 will always be in the same direction since the point at which the clamp screw 35 engages the block 21 is fixed in location. The eccentric mounting of clamp screw 35 with respect to set screw 33 enables an operator to obtain the exact positioning of block .21 which it had before he removed this block for purposes of cleaning. It will therefore be understood that applicant's invention consists in positioning a pasting or folding block over a cigarette rod by means of studs, adjusting the distance said block descends over a cigarette rod by means of set screws which lie in the same plane as said studs, and then clamping said block in place by means of a clamp screw which acts on the block at one Side of the plane in which said to form a sliding fit with the guide members projecting upwardly from said base structure; adjusting members mounted in said block for adjusting the amount of space between said block and said base structure; and a clamp device for engaging said block at one side of said adjusting members to bias said block toward said base structure and give the block the same fixed amount of tilt each time said clamp is brought into engagement with said block.

6. A mount for a section block which cooperates with a base structure of a cigarette machine to perform a finishing operation upon a cigarette rod comprising, guide members mounted in and extending upwardly from said base structure, said block having openings constructed and arranged to form a sliding fit with the guide members projecting upwardly from said base structure; adjusting members mounted in said block for adjusting the amount of space between said block and. said base structure; a clamp device for engaging said block at one side of said adjusting members to bias said block toward said base structure and give the block the same fixed amount of tilt each time said clamp is brought into engagement with said block; and a movable mounting for said clamp device to permit said clamp to be brought into and out of engagement with said block to facilitate the removal and replacement of said block on said machine.

'7. In a continuous rod cigarette machine having an endless tape and paper wrapper carried thereby, the combination with a section block arranged to enga e and fold inwardly one of the edges of the cigarette paper of the cigarette rod and having slots extending therethrough, lugs connected to said cigarette machine and extending through said slots for aligning said block with respect to said cigarette ro-d, threaded clamp means passing through said block and threaded into said cigarette machine for applying downward pressure on said block, and set screws mounted in said block for adjusting the extent of movement downward on said cigarette rod of said. block whereby said block may be removed upon complete separation of the threaded clamp means from the corresponding threaded portion of the cigarette machine.

8. In a continuous rod cigarette machine, a mount for a device for forming and finishing cigarette seams comprising, a cigarette rod finishing block for finishing the seams of a cigarette rod, a support for said block adjacent which travels said cigarette rod, guide members connected to said support for positioning said block, set screws mounted in said block constructed and arranged to operate against said support for spacing said block with respect to said support, and a clamp screw engaging said block at a portion out of line with said set screws for pressing said block and set screws toward said support.

9. In a continuous rod cigarette machine, a mount for a device for forming and finishing cigarette seams comprising, a cigarette rod finishing block for finishing the seam of a cigarette rod, said block having slotted openings formed in either end of said block, a support for said block adjacent which travels said cigarette rod, studs mounted in said support constructed and arranged to extend through and fit snugly in said slots, set screws threaded through said finishing block at either end and in line with said slots and studs for spacing :said block with respect to said support, and 'a clamp screw constructed and arranged to engage said block to one side of an imaginary center line passing through the center of .said set screws to cause said block to be canted slightly against .said studs for pressing said block toward said support.

'10. In .a cigarette machine having a base/structure over which travels a continuous cigarette rod and a section block cooperating with said base structure to, perform a finishing operation upon the seam of the cigarette .rod, a mount for said block comprising, adjusting members for regulating the amount of space between said block and said base structure; guide members for positioning said block with respect to said base structure and for limiting the degree to which said block may be transversely tilted upon said adjusting members; and a clamp for transversely tilting said block toward said base structure and for holding said block in a fixed position with respect to said'base structure.

11. 'In a cigarette machine having a base structure provided with a longitudinal channel through which travels a continuous cigarette rod, said cigarette rod consisting of a tobacco filler rod and a paper web folded about the filler rod, the shape of said channel conforming to the bottom of the cigarett rod, and a folder ironing section block arranged to fold the outer longitudinal edge of the paper web upon the inner longitudinal edge of said paper web, a mount for said folder block comprising, adjusting members mounted in said block for regulating the amount of space between said block and said base structure; guide members for positioning said block with respect to said base structure constructed and arranged to allow a slight amount of tilting and to limit the degree to which said block may be tilted upon said adjusting members; and a clamp for biasing said block toward said base structure and for holding said block in a fixed tilted position with respect to said base structure.

12. In a continuous rod cigarette machine having a bottom block, an endless tape and a paper wrapper carried thereby, a folder ironing section block arranged to engage the overlap edge of the cigarette paper and fold it over the other longitudinal edge thereof and having a slotted opening, an adjustable mounting for said folder ironing section block comprising, a lug fixedly mounted on said bottom block and constructed and arranged to fit snugly in said slot; a movable clamp secured to said cigarette machine for pressing said folder ironing section block downward over said lug against said bottom block in lap folding position; set screws mounted in said folder ironing section block and projecting therethrough into engagement with said bottom block for limiting the downward movement of the folder ironing section block, said screws being adjustable to position said folder ironing section block for a predetermined cross-section of the cigarette rod whereby said last-named block may be removed upon unloosening and moving said clamp to permit removal of paste accumulations from the block, and then replaced in exactly the same position.

JAMES W. WARREN. 

